Virtual reality naturally translates into personal experiences, and there are certain genres that can take advantage of that in a very special way. Simulators are among the most benefited, but it would be crazy to ignore horror games. At the end of the day, you don't need great graphics or a too-deep story to give a good scare, and that is the space occupied by Android-compatible titles based on Cardboard or Daydream. Today we are going to recommend ten of them.
I am not a big consumer of horror games. The experiences I remember best are Alone in the Dark (classic MS-DOS that everyone should play), Clive Barker's Undying (available on GOG for a few coins), and more recently F.E.A.R. I barely lasted half an hour inside Amnesia, confirming that my tolerance margin is very low... and I must admit that the idea of a horror game in virtual reality gives me goosebumps. Most likely I will end up hanged with the cables from the scare, as long as the VR headset is a Rift or Vive. But what about the mobile environment?
Horror games in virtual reality
Well, that's when Cardboard comes in. Although it is true that not all Android devices are compatible (that is the most recurring complaint among virtual reality apps), most users have managed to successfully enjoy terror on their smartphones. If you don't know where to start, here is a list of ten suggestions:
Dark Walls VR
A security guard working in an abandoned hospital... during the night shift. A fire, the death of a woman and her three-year-old daughter. What could go wrong? Dark Walls VR is not too long, and the interactions it offers are limited, but it is a decent starting point. The developers recommend using headphones. (Download)
Sisters
The free version of Sisters is on par with a demo: the experience is short, and its story unfolds in episodes sold separately (which, by the way, are Daydream compatible). However, it reminds us how terrifying some dolls can be... especially when they start moving on their own for no reason. (Download)
Silent Home
One thing I have to say about Silent Home is that its presentation video is not as representative of what we find inside, but once we load it, we will immediately detect the influence of «P.T.» on its content. In essence, Silent Home traps you inside a mansion, and your mission is to get out of it in one piece. The game feels more claustrophobic compared to others, a detail that doesn't hurt... (Download)
Sinister Edge
Sinister Edge describes a character who has desperately searched for his family for years, and clues lead him to an old house. There he finds several drawings that seem to have been made by his daughter, and that show... something. The demo cuts off very soon and the ending of the full version leaves us on one of the biggest cliffhangers in the world, but it is quite well done. (Download)
11:57
More than a game, 11:57 qualifies as an experience. In truth, it doesn't last more than five minutes, but that didn't stop it from becoming one of the most popular options within horror in virtual reality for Android. Certain passages remind me of the last seconds of Blair Witch, however, it quickly becomes something else. Whether it's good or bad, that depends on you. (Download)
A Chair in a Room
The Android demo starts calmly, even friendly... until it recommends practicing with the flashlight. The walls have details about what appears to be the police case of a missing girl. A false grave, pig bones. A Chair in a Room is a way to tell stories in virtual reality, and this version barely lets you get your feet wet, but it justifies the download. (Download)
House of Terror
As its name suggests, House of Terror presents once again the concept of haunted house, although it has certain elements that we could consider «classic»: insects, bodies that appear out of nowhere, nails in the floor, things like that. The demo leaves you wanting more, but its developer offers the possibility to unlock an extra area through a simple registration. (Download)
Affected: The Manor
Technically, The Manor is one of the episodes of the Affected saga, which is also available for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Its developers only offer one on Android, it requires Daydream-compatible hardware, and costs three dollars. Is it worth it? Many see Affected: The Manor as «the» game to show when we want to share Daydream with someone, and if you are also interested in random scares, I think the answer is yes. (Download)
Layers of Fear: Solitude
It is possible that Layers of Fear: Solitude is the most complete and attractive game in terms of graphics. The people at Aspyr decided to take the original Layers of Fear and adapt it for Daydream devices, with positive results. Its price of ten dollars and the hardware demands imposed by Daydream limit its reach, but if you have a compatible gadget, Solitude should be part of your library. (Download)
Haunted Rooms
Each room is a prison, our ability to solve puzzles is the only thing that will help us escape, and the specter with the chainsaw doesn't look very friendly. Haunted Rooms was recently updated, and offers broad compatibility, to the point that the presence of Cardboard is not mandatory (although recommended). (Download)
I understand that most of these games are demos or experiences, and I am afraid that is the general state of virtual reality on Android, but let's not give up. There are many scares waiting without cost, and as always, we will leave the comments open for you to share your favorites. Good luck!
